Locomotive smoke box



Oct. l0, 1939. L. B'. JoNEs 2,175,266

LOGOMOTIVE SMOKE' BOX -I5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Octl5, 1938 ulllllvavnaflllllivllrrllllallllnnlfldd,

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INVENTOR Ling/i Jan/es,

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES: W M

Oct. 101939. B. JoNEs 2,175,266

LOCOMOTIVE SMOKE BOX Filed Oct. l5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE YS.

Oct; 10, 1939. B. JoNl-:s

LOCOMOTIVE SMOKE BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 0G11. l5. 1938 l Hah I INVENTOR:

lvJmwsi Lloyd @had ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention has general reference to equipment customarily located intermediate a source of combustion and an appropriate outlet to the I open air for the discharge of smoke and,.more particularly, to steam locomotive smoke boxes including reticulate means for retarding and arresting the escape of partly consumed fuel particles and sparks therefrom. y

Means of the type referred tousually occupy a space between the forward edge of the table plate and the top and sides of the smoke box, and much diiculty has heretofore been experienced owing to the openings becoming plugged with unburnt sparks and so forth,I with resultant increasing constriction of the free passage of the iirebox gases to the stack. Such disadvantage necessarily involves frequent cleaning in order to insure efficient running of the locomotive.

The primary object of this invention is to overcome the stated objections by eliminating the reticulate spark arresting means from the direct path of the iirebox gases, and at the same time directing the partly consumed fuel particles so that they are effectively broken-up or cooled off before passage to the locomotive stack, whereby the smoke box front end is rendered substantially self-cleaning or freed of unburnt fuel accumulation. I Another object is to arrange, in conjunction with the spark arresting means, a co-related diaphragm having a forwardly directed lip effective to compel the firebox gases and unburnt particles of the fuel to pass to the top of the rebox for downward deflection rearwardly of said diaphragm before entering the lift pipe for discharge, whereby the degree of spark reduction is further increased.

Further objects and ancillary advantages will be hereinafter referred to, or be apparent from the following description of a typical embodiment of this invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, while the 4 concluding claims tersely express the features of novelty on which patent protection is desired.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a vertical section through the forward portion of a locomotive including the smoke box equipment of this invention.

Fig. II is a front elevation, drawn to a larger scale, of the same with the smoke box front and door removed, and parts broken out or in section for better illustration of otherwise hidden struc- 55 tural features.

Fig. III is a sectional plan, taken on the staggered plane III- III of Fig. I.

' Fig. IV is a detail section on the line IV-IV in Fig. III; and,

Fig. V is a similar section on said Fig. III.

In all the views, corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the numeral I indicates the forward portion of a lo- 10 comotive boiler shell,r2 the longitudinal fiues, `and 3 the head plate: while the smoke box is -comprehensively designated 4, the same having 'a front plate 5 and door 6. Within the smoke box 4 is a standard exhaust-steam smoke-ejector 15 I below the lift pipe 8 and stack 9; and IIJ is the usual table plate about the ejector l1 with rearward connection to the vertical Abaffle plate Il, all of said `parts, being constructed and arranged in accordance with known practice. 20

In accordance with this invention at the forward edge of the table plate I0, in advance of the lift pipe 8, there is erected an imperforate sheet metal diaphragm I2, which extends transversely of the smoke box 4 and projects well above the lower end of the lift pipe 8, said diaphragm having a forwardly-projecting upwardly-inclined lip I3, which serves for a purpose later on explained. 'Ihis diaphragm I2 is preferably made in counterpart sections, adapted to iit within the inner ring 20, with one of the medially meeting edges recessed at I4 for reception of the edge portion I5 of the other, and there connected by spaced wedge-pins I6. At the outer sides, the diaphragm I2 is rigidly supported by upper and lower angle-sections I1, I8, respectively and conveniently Welded to the smoke box shell I9 and inner ring 20; and, along the lower edge said diaphragm is similarly secured by wedge pins I6 to the vertically turned edge 2I of the table plate I0.

In spaced relation to the diaphragm I2 there is mounted transversely of thesmoke box front plate 5, what is usually termed, a cinder buster 22 preferably composed of perforate sheet material of a mesh so that some of the gases and also sparks, too small to do any material damage, may pass directly through the same. The cinder buster 22 shown conveniently comprises a main section 23, with aligned side sections 24 each such section embodying a rectangular frame 25 including a wire netting panel 26; and it is to be noted said buster 22 is inclined upwardly in the forward direction, see Figs. I, IV and V. Transversely of the smoke box 4 is mounted a the une v-v of suitable bar 21, rigidly supported at the ends by angle-section brackets 28, preferably welded to the smoke box shell i9, said bar having the rear edges of the buster sections 23, 24 attached thereto by spaced wedge pins 36. The forward edge of the buster section 23 is similarly attached, by wedge pins 30 to a suitable-section composite bar 3! longitudinally shaped to fit transversely, or chord-fashion, across the smoke box front plate 5. This bar 3| includes stepped-sections 3| with which the ends of said bar lappingly engage and are connected together by wedge pins 36', while the ends of said stepped sections are rigidly xed to the front plate 5 and front ring 29. It is to be noted the forward component of the frame 25, of the main buster section 23, is preferably formed of angle cross-section to provide an abutment or lip a with which coacts an associated bar or imperforate baffle member 32, permanently secured across the smoke box door 6, for preventing upward ow of any gases or sparks in front of the bar 3|. Spaced angle-sections 33 are provided in connection with the buster side sections 24, and are rigidly fixed to the front plate 5 to prevent upward displacement of said sections.

From the foregoing structural explanation of this invention, it will be apparent that by provision of the clearance c between the vertical diaphragm I2 and the rear edge of the cinder buster 22, all netting 26 is eliminated from the direct path of the gases, while at the same time unburnt particles and large sparks are so 'directed, below the buster 22, that they are effectively broken-up or cooled-olf before they can travel by way of the clearance c to the locomotive stack 9. It is also to be noted that by inclining the abutment or lip a slightly forward from the vertical, as shown, the particles and sparks are directed into a turbulent Zone, below the bar or baffle member 32, set up by the structural arrangement and co-relation of the parts thereat, which further serves materially in keeping the buster netting panels` 26 free from clogging, such arrangement also rendering said panels self-cleaning in an obvious manner. Furthermore, unburnt particles and sparks entering the smoke box 4 from the flues 2 and below the table plate l0 travel with such velocity they cannot turn upward through the clearance c, but are projected forward under their own Velocity and strike the head plate 5 and door 6 underneath the cinder buster 22; the large particles or sparks of unburnt material impacting the said parts 5, 6, and bouncing back against the under side of the buster 22, until they are suiciently broken up to either pass through the buster netting panels 26 in minut-e particles, or are sufficiently cooled off before they can be carried through the clearance c, and circuitous course defined by the diaphragm I2 to the stack 9. Incidentally, the diaphragm I 2 with its lip I3 jointly have the effect of compelling the iiow of gases and sparks to pass to the top of the smoke box 4 in a substantially vertical direction for further turbulous circulation before they can iiow downward on the rear side of said diaphragm for passage into the lift pipe 8 and stack 9. The circuitous course thus set up causes comparatively little, or a negligible, retardation to the free passage of the gases, but substantially delays the discharge of live sparks out of the stack 9, even after they have buster 22, so that they are effectively disintevand upwardly directed passed the cinderA grated or cooled off before exhaustion into the open air.

Finally, while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated modifications and changes may be effected in adapting said invention to dierent application than the one specifically disclosed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a smoke box including a draft conduit, a table plate and a lift pipe; an imperforate diaphragm across the smoke box in advance of and projecting from the table plate above the lift pipe lower end, and a perforate cinder buster spaced forwardly and upwardly with respect to the diaphragm, said cinder buster including a blank portion with a downward lip jointly serving to project rearwards under turbulence any unburnt fuel particles for disintegration before circuitous passage upward and over the diaphragm into the lift pipe.

2. In a smoke box including a draft conduit, a table plate and a lift pipe; an imperforate diaphragm across the smoke box in advance of and projecting from the table plate well above the lower end of the lift pipe, said diaphragm having a forwardly-directed and upwardly-directed lip along its upper edge, and a perforate cinder buster forwardly of the diaphragm, said cinder buster including a frontal blank section with a rear inclined portion serving to project rearwards under turbulence any unburnt fuel particles for disintegration before circuitous passage upwards and over the diaphragm and then downwards into the lift pipe.

3. In a smoke box including a front plate and a draft conduit, a table plate and a lift pipe; an imperforate diaphragm across the smoke box in advance of and extending from the table plate front edge well above the lower end of the lift pipe, said diaphragm having a forwardly lip along its upper edge, and a perforate cinder buster spaced forwardly of the diaphragm, said cinder buster including a horizontal blank section with a clined rear lip across the smoke box front plate coactive with the cinder buster, to project downwardly under turbulence any unburnt fuel particles for disintegration before circuitous upand-dowm passage over the imperforate diaphragm into the lift pipe.

4. In a steam locomotive smoke box including a. front plate having a door, a smoke ejector, a table plate and a lift pipe; an imperforate diaphragm transversely across projecting upwards from the table plate well above the lower end of and in advance of the lift pipe, and a perforate cinder buster spaced forwardly of the diaphragm, said cinder buster including a baffle section across the smokey box front plate and door, said section having a rear downwardly-directed lip, and both jointly serving to project inwards under turbulence unburnt cinders or sparksv for effective disintegration and cooling-off before passage up-and-down over the imperforate diaphragm for escape by way of the locomotive smoke stack. Y 5. In a steam locomotive smoke box including a front plate having a door, a smoke ejector, a table plate and a lift pipe; an imperforate diaphragm transversely across the smoke box and projecting upwards from the table plate front edge vertically in advance of the lift pipe as well as extending well above the lower end of said downwardly in- 1 the smoke box and lift pipe, and a perforate cinder buster spaced 75 forwardly of the diaphragm, said cinder buster including a blank baie section across the smoke box front plate and door and jointly directing inwards under turbulence all unburnt cinders or sparks for effective disintegration and cooling-01T before passage forwardly-up and rearwardly-down over the imperforate diaphragm and exit by way of the locomotive smoke stack.

6. In a steam locomotive smoke box including a smoke ejector, a table plate and a lift pipe; an imperforate diaphragm transversely across the smoke box projecting vertically upwards from the table plate and spacedly in advance of the lift pipe as well as extending well above the lower end of said lift pipe, said diaphragm at the .sides fitting in the smoke box inner ring and having an upwardly-and-forwardly directed deflector lip along its upper edge, and an inclined perforate cinder buster spaced in advance of the diaphragm across the smoke box front end, said cinder buster including an imperforate horizontal blank portion with a downward lip inclined forwards from the vertical and serving in conjunction with the smoke box front plate to project downwardly inwards under turbulence all unburnt cinders or sparks for effective disintegration and cooling-off before passage over the imperforate diaphragm for exit from the locomotive smoke stack.

7. In a steam locomotive smoke box including a smoke ejector, a table plate and a lift pipe, an imperiorate diaphragm projecting upwards from the table plate in advance of the lift pipe and extending well above the lower end of the lift pipe, said diaphragm at the sides tting in the smoke box inner ring and having a deflector lip along its upper edge, and a perforate cinder buster spaced forwardly of the diaphragm, said cinder buster including a blank section effective to project rearwards and downwardly under turbulence any unburnt fuel particles for disintegration, of such unburnt fuel particles and the effective cooling-off of sparks contained in the smoke before discharge into the open air.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the imperforate diaphragm comprises counterpart sections with one of the meeting 4edges recessed for reception of the other, said diaphragm being removably attached to the table plate front edge and at the sides toangle sections secured to the inner face of the smoke box wall, and the deiector lip of the diaphragm is forwardly and angularly directed upwards with respect' to the horizontal.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein the perforate cinder buster comprises an intermediate and outer sections, the intermediate section extending across the smoke box front plate door opening and the outer sections laterally therefrom to the smoke box front ring and wall, each said section consisting of a frame with a netting panel, and a transverse bar across the smoke box for rearwardly and removably supporting the cinder buster, with similar supporting means across the front plate.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein the cinder buster comprises an intermediate and outer sections, each outer section being removably attached along its inner edge to a transverse bar across the smoke box and stepped bars secured to the front plate, the intermediate section being similarly attached at its inner part to said transverse bar and at the outer part having an angle-section bar with its ends lappingly at'- tached to the adjoining stepped bar ends, and a baffle member across the smoke box door adapted to abut the intermediate section bar when said door is closed for preventing upward passage of unburnt cinders or sparks.

LLOYD B. JONES. 

